Thermaltake RGB Guide

Welcome to TT USA's RGB Guide.

Last Updated: 2019/05/16 1600 PST

This article is here to help you understand and differentiate between the different generations of Thermaltake's RGB Products.

The guide will name the "Generation" of the product, give a brief description of its capabilities, show a picture of its controller, give the general one-controller set up required to utilize the product, any software needed to operate the product, as well as list out the products covered under the Generation.

Please note that the various generations are NOT cross compatible.

[A section for the ARGB & Other Associated Versions will be added soon]

Generation 1 - "The Analogue RGB"

Generation 1 is the first foray into the RGB scheme. It is controlled by a simple analogue controller containing physical buttons used to control the product. These fans described as being capable of 256 Colors, which is how they are often distinguishable from other product descriptions. (*An exception is the View 37, which we will later discuss)

The controller setup is usually as follows:

1.) All Gen 1/Analogue device are connected via 5-Pin connector into the 5-Pin header on the controller (a maximum of three).

2.) The Controller itself is connected via a 4-Pin PWM connector to the motherboard, often as a System Fan (SYSFAN / SYS_FAN1 , etc. Varies on the motherboard manufacturer).

*Note how the 4-Pin PWM connector is already attached into the controller.

Generation 2 - "The Digital RGB Controller"

This generation is marked as being the first that is purely, solely software controlled. As that would suggest, all the physical buttons available from Generation 1 are removed. As we move away from analogue control, we required another cable to allow our proprietary software to control the Generation 2 products. These products were marketed and named under the "TT Premium Edition" brand. While the next generation of products are also often named "TT Premium Edition", Generation 2 products have no other indicative branding so as to separate them from the next generation.

The controller set up is usually as follows:

1.) All Generation 2/Digital devices are connected via a 5-pin connector to the corresponding 5-pin header on the controller.

2.) Plug in the MicroUSB controller cable to the controller, and the other end's 9-Pin Connector into a USB 2.0 9-Pin Header on the motherboard.

3.) Connect the power cable onto the controller, and the ending 4-Pin Molex Connector onto the appropriate cable on the PSU.

Our most up-to-date generation, Generation 3 is marked by its signature PLUS designation. It is fully software controlled, building upon the Digital controller's foundation. Thermaltake has moved away from the 5-Pin Connectors of its devices and moved onto 9-Pin Connectors. The controller themselves can handle up to five (5) Generation 3 devices.

View 37 RGB Chassis/Riing Plus H14: This chassis has the "Riing Plus RGB H14" Controller, which is designed to only hold the three pre-installed fans, as well as utilize the integration to specific motherboards (please visit the product page for the full compatibility list).

TT Sync Controller: Similar to the View 37 RGB Chassis, the TT Sync Controller is designed to "hand off" the RGB control of PLUS Generation/Generation 3 products to certain Motherboard's Software (ASUS Aura Sync, MSI Mystic Light, GIGABYTE Fusion). Please visit the product page to view the full compatibility list.

Riing Trio LED RGB Radiator Fan TT Premium Edition (3-Fan Pack): The Riing Trios do have their own controller, identifiable by the "lip" or "ridge" along the edge of the top of the controller (please see the image below). DO NOT PLUG IN RIING TRIO FANS IN THE OLDER GENERATION 3/PLUS GENERATION CONTROLLER.